Max vox forster



store and straight smooth surfaces.

MAX vex roRsTER, or BERLIN, GERMANY.

PROCESS OF MAKlNG SMOKELESS POWDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,638, dated May 5, 1896.

Application filed February 28,1894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX VON FORSTER, a

Germany, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented.

new and useful Improvements in the Mannfacture of Smokeless Powder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to the production of a very bulky smokeless powder, and has for its object to prevent overcharging of the firearm when a nitropowder is substi-- tuted in place of ordinary gunpowder.

Nitropowders, when made infiake form, have heretofore been gelatinized to the highest degree, and in view of the nature of the subsequent process of manufacture possess a firm homogeneous structure and pres nt a straight smooth surface. Consequently when such nitropowders 'aro filled into cartridge-shells they pack closely together and the powder occupies a comparatively small space. The sporting-arms new in use are designed for ordinary gunpowder, and the use of nitropowders is attended by the danger of overloading the cartridge. According to my present invention I obviate this danger by providing a powder in which the flakes are more bulky than heretofore, and have imparted thereto a corrugated rough surface. (lonsequently they occupy a greater space for a given weight than flakcs'of firm strucgreater volume materially diminishes the explosive force and induces uniform combustion. The increased bulk of the ,flakes and roughness of; surface are obtained by the use of incompletely gelatinized nitrocellulose. Any known method for incompletely gelatinizing the nitrocellulose may be employed. For instance, highly-nitraied cellulose (collodion-powder) is mixed with fcebl'y-nitrated cellulose (collodion- '-olton) in the presence The Serial No. 501,762. (No specimens.)

of a solvent,- such as alcohol and sulfuric ether, which completely dissolves the feeblynitrated cellulose, but the highly-nitrated cellulose only so far as feeblv-uitrated cellulose is present therein.

In carrying out my improved process in practice I proceed as follows: A powder paste containing twenty per cent. of highly nitrated collodiou (eollodion powder) is kneaded in the prcsenceof a solvent of the collod'iou-cotton, the same consisting of sixtysi. parts of sulfuric ether and thirty-four parts of alcohol. The mass is then rolled into bands having a thickness of, about 0.] millimeter. These hands'are then cut into flakes having alarge surface when compared I to their thickness+say 1.8 millimeters by 1.8

finally,' rapidly drying the flakes, whereby the latter are caused to dry in a corrugated or wary form with rough surfaces.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to-this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MAX VON FoR's'rEu; Witnesses:

l RIlIhHlClI Clue. GnAs'sn, GUSTAV Hijnsmnw. 

